Violence Escalates in Bangladesh Ahead of Hasina Verdict — Bombings, Arson and Nationwide Protests

Violence surges across Bangladesh ahead of court verdict

Bangladesh has been hit by a fresh wave of violence as the country awaits a highly charged court verdict in the trial of ousted long-time prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Her Awami League has urged supporters to stage a nationwide "lockdown" in protest, and authorities report a sharp rise in attacks linked to the unrest.

Schools in the capital, Dhaka, and other major cities moved classes online on Thursday after severe transport disruption and safety concerns. Officials said they recorded 32 crude bomb explosions on Wednesday and that dozens of buses were set ablaze across the country. Two further crude devices detonated near Dhaka airport on Thursday night, with no casualties reported.

The interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, has bolstered security in the capital, deploying 400 soldiers from the paramilitary Border Guard and tightening checkpoints. Public gatherings have been heavily restricted as authorities seek to prevent further violence.

Recent incidents include a firebomb thrown at a government office in Gopalganj district — Hasina’s ancestral home — and local reports that an office of Grameen Bank, founded by Yunus, was torched in eastern Bangladesh. Police say they have arrested dozens of Awami League supporters on allegations of involvement in explosions and sabotage.

Hasina, who fled to India last August amid deadly antigovernment protests, is being tried in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity. She denies wrongdoing and says the trial is politically motivated. Prosecutors accuse the 78-year-old of being the "mastermind and principal architect" behind the violent suppression of demonstrations last year, which were sparked by controversy over a government job-quota system.

The United Nations estimates that up to 1,400 people may have died in the unrest that followed those protests. Rights groups have long criticized Hasina’s second administration (2009–2024) for alleged abuses, including arrests, disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Interim Prime Minister Yunus has said he inherited a "completely" broken political system. On Thursday he announced that a referendum on a national charter signed last month will be held on the same day as parliamentary elections scheduled for February. His interim government has vowed to end state violence, but a recent report from Bangladeshi rights group Odhikar warns that impunity remains widespread and continues to enable abuses.

Context: The developments come amid deep political polarization in Bangladesh and significant international attention to both the rights allegations and the security response. The situation remains fluid as the country prepares for the forthcoming legal and electoral milestones.